The Alpha King's Nemesis-Chapter 217: Blessing In Disguise ()

~In the depths of a dark forest somewhere in the Ethereal domain~

Morden’s study was cast in the shadows as it always was, pitch darkness save for the slightest rays of light seeping in through the partly opened windows.

The windows were covered up with large black drapes and only a slight parting of the drapes allowed for the lighting of the entire study.

Sat in this darkness was Morden, his brows were furrowed up in distaste as he examined a shard of the eye of chaos, twisting and twirling it in his hand.

Morden did so for a short time before he clenched the shard tightly in his palm, the sharp edges cut into his flesh but Morden barely even flinched, his gaze was narrowed and there was a furious look in his eyes.

"The Sea Dome was a complete failure... after so much effort, rather than merging the shards, I ended up losing one... one amongst the few I have painstakingly gathered, leaving me a step back from where I had been..." Morden murmured, his eyes dark in rage.

"And it was all her fault... that Crimson Alpha, if only she had stayed in her place, none of this would have happened... I will not forgive it, never." Morden vowed solemnly to himself.

Morden was still bristling in rage when the doors to his study came open and a familiar face strode in.

"My King." Caedmon greeted, lowering his head to a deep bow.

Morden did not acknowledge the greeting, instead he picked up a clean rag from the side table and slowly wiped the shard of the eye of chaos, getting off all the blood stains on it.

When it was perfectly cleaned up as it had been, Morden turned his attention to his palm, wiping off the blood stains on it before.

The injury inflicted had already healed over and Morden restored the shard into the chest, shutting the chest.

A brief sizzling sound was heard and Morden’s hand came away red and raw, burnt by the ancient protection spell cast on the chest, but Morden did not mind it at all.

When the chest was closed, Morden returned his attention to Caedmon whose head was still lowered into a bow, awaiting permission to stand at ease in Morden’s presence.

There was an annoyed look in Caedmon’s eyes, one he kept hidden away from Morden and if Morden could sense it, it did not seem like Morden cared all that much about it.

"At ease." Morden finally permitted.

Caedmon stood up straight, his arms crossed behind his back.

"Why have you returned so soon? If I recall, I assigned you a task of great consequence, it should not allow you the free time to gallivant at will." Morden said pointedly.

"I have come to you with words related to my task. As My King knows, I was allowed a month’s worth of time with the Crimson Alpha and this time quickly winds up." Caedmon reported to Morden.

"I am well aware of this already." Morden agreed.

"Have you already won her heart? Or have you procured the shard of the eye of chaos in her possession?" Morden asked,

All this time, he had not lifted even a single glance to Caedmon, not since Caedmon arrived.

Instead, Morden had busied himself with twirling a crystal orb on his desk, watching it spin continuously like it was the most interesting thing he had ever seen.

"I... I am still working on it." Caedmon admitted.

The spinning crystal came to a sharp stop at that. Morden still did not glance up.

"Why have you come then? To whine to me about your failure? I have heard from the rogue alpha that you even made use of the rogues... harming the Crimson Alpha, here I was thinking you had a plan in motion." Morden said.

"I mean, you would not dare make use of my resources and risk destroying my plans otherwise...but it seems I have thought wrong. " Morden murmured.

"I may not have the shard of the eye of chaos yet, but it is only a matter of time before I have it in hand...Zari... Alpha Zariah’s heart also, it will be mine in just a matter of time. Naturally, the shard will come with it." Caedmon said to Morden confidently.

"Zari..." Morden repeated to himself, he scoffed afterwards,

"You sure do sound certain of yourself..." Morden said.

"Why have you come then? Should you not be working on what you have to? The month will be up soon and what makes you certain you will be Alpha Zariah’s choice?" Morden asked Caedmon.

"Even if I am not, I am certain I am already in her heart. She will never be able to give Askel a hundred percent, not anymore... however, it is because of that possibility I have come." Caedmon said to Morden.

"You want my help?" Morden guessed.

"First, I have not come empty handed. I have come with a result, perhaps even greater than that which you expected of me." Caedmon reported.

"What is it then?" Morden asked blankly.

"I have found another of the shards of the eye of chaos." Caedmon announced.

Morden froze visibly, his gaze finally lifted to Caedmon and Caedmon smirked in satisfaction at finally saying something that earned Morden’s full attention.

"The fifth shard? Where is it?! How could you find it?!" Morden demanded.

"It is all thanks to the shard in Alpha Zariah’s possession. I have witnessed it react in close proximity to the Ethereal Palace...it can only mean that there is a shard somewhere in the palace." Caedmon revealed.

Morden’s brows twitched as he sat up straight on his chair, a small smirk spread on his lips.

"Do you realise that each shard of the eyes of chaos only react to the shard they are directly connected to? And that is why it is so difficult to find them...not all shards react to each other, they are linked in twos..." Morden murmured.

"What are the chances that the traitor Imain stole the right shard to smoke out the shard hidden in the Ethereal Palace?...was this set back merely a blessing in disguise?" Morden asked in delight.